Jump to content

Off the Beaten Path: Titus Ascalon Tyche on Prow


David Atherton

Recommended Posts

I was attracted to this coin's super busy reverse. There is so much ethnic symbolism crammed into its 23mm flan. The portrait too is quite crude and unusual.

 

RPC2209b.jpg.4fc1334a1b328abdfed3b6f61393acc2.jpg

Titus
Æ23, 11.02
Ascalon (Judaea) mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ; Head of Titus, laureate, r.
Rev: ΑΣΚΑΛΩ ΔΠΡ; Tyche standing, l., on prow with standard and aphlaston; in l. field incense altar; in r. field dove standing l.
RPC 2209 (8 spec.).
Acquired from Forvm Ancient Coins, June 2023.

In the years after the devastating Jewish revolt the pro-Roman harbour city of Ascalon produced a series of bronze coins under the Flavians. The coins copy types previously struck under Augustus and Nero. Here we see Tyche as a city goddess along with Ascalon's city symbol a dove. Pliny the Elder mentions Ascalon as the only oppidum liberum in the region during the first century AD (NH 5. 68).

NB: An aphlaston is the upward curving stern of an ancient warship.

 

In hand.

 

 

Feel free to share your own 'busy' reverse types.

As always, thank you for looking!

Edited by David Atherton
  • Like 11
  • Heart Eyes 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • David Atherton changed the title to Off the Beaten Path: Titus Ascalon Tyche on Prow

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...